SpiceJet fails to put flights on right track

Reports claiming that Spice-Jet's erstwhile co-promoter Ajay Singh is "seriously looking" to revive the ailing airline failed to help its operations on Friday with most of its flights from Delhi and Mumbai getting delayed.

The airline, however, claimed that it was operating full curtailed schedule of 230 flights per day. "SpiceJet operations continues to be delayed and most of the flights have either departed from or arrived late at the Delhi airport," a source said.

"In all, the airline operated 40 flights, including 21 departures from the Delhi airport till Friday evening", the source said.

SpiceJet in a statement said, "SpiceJet is pleased to announce that it is continuing to operate its full schedule of flights. We have also operated extra flights since Wednesday evening to accommodate backlogged passengers in locations such as Port Blair and Goa."

Meanwhile, State Bank of India (SBI) chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya said that the bank is not looking at extending any loan to SpiceJet.

"We just have two current accounts with the airline and the bank is not looking at giving any fresh loan to the carrier."

The civil aviation ministry had said it may request banks/financial institutions to extend loans of up to Rs 600 crore to the airline.